A History of Electronic Music by Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre has a new book coming later this year, described as "The definitive illustrated story of electronic sound, from WWI to the AI-enabled future, presented by the godfather of the genre." The book is based upon his expansive career with electronic music and the machines behind its creation - starting off over 110 years ago in 1913.

Last week he urged "music and film industries to embrace AI" in this article from the Guardian.

"Every technological revolution seems to be always considered as a threat by the previous established media or mode of expressions," he said. "And AI is exactly the same. We should never be afraid of technology."

"It's strange how conservative the movie industry and the music industry are [on AI]," he said, urging creatives to think of AI as "augmented imagination". "They are probably more conservative than lots of other sectors in our society. And everybody's in their own lane and they're all considering everything which could disrupt [their business]."

The book is available now for pre-order here. More on the contents below... 

Jean-Michel Jarre is a true pioneer of electronic music. From his early role in electronic sound to his current work with AI, technology is at the forefront of everything he does. Having amassed an extraordinary collection of electronic and electroacoustic instruments – one of the largest and most important in the world – JMJ provides the ideal raw materials for this unique illustrated book.

Machines begins in 1913 with The Art of Noises Futurist manifesto and chronicles the genre as fundamentally European, originating with Surrealism and the Bauhaus, and later shaped by radio. Detailed descriptions of more than eighty instruments – from the iconic ARP 2500 to rare, bespoke, one-off creations – illustrate shifts in electronic sound. Throughout, JMJ's personality and devotion to the electronic cause shines through, aided by biographical anecdotes and his unparalleled depth of knowledge.

More from Jean-Michel Jarre

• MTV Jungle & DnB Music Videos 18-Sep-26
• Bitwig's New Native Devices 17-Sep-26
• Reason Scream4 is Now Free! 17-Sep-26
• Broke Beats pt1 - A £37 Interface & Multi FX 16-Sep-26
• Ed O'Brien's Must-Listen Albums 16-Sep-26